The Four-Hour Documentary Series Will Anchor a Weekend-Long “True Crime Movie Marathon” (W/T)
Marathon to Feature the Movie ‘In Cold Blood’ to Commemorate the Film’s 50th Anniversary
LOS ANGELES, CA – July 29, 2017 – SundanceTV today announced that its four-hour documentary series “Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders” from Academy Award® nominee Joe Berlinger will air as a two-night special event on Saturday, November 18th and Sunday, November 19th starting at 9p/8c. The series focuses on the infamous crime that shocked the nation and was chronicled in Truman Capote’s seminal book, In Cold Blood – the November 15, 1959 brutal murder of four members of the Clutter family in their home in a small Kansas farming community, a crime seemingly without motive. An AMC Studios, RadicalMedia and Third Eye Motion Picture Company production, the true crime documentary takes a fresh in-depth look at the legendary case – digging into the resulting investigation, and the convictions and executions of Perry Smith and Richard Hickock.
“Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders” draws from the first-hand accounts of relatives, family friends, townspeople and law enforcement — some of whom have never spoken publicly before. In addition to commentary from surviving Clutter family members, there are new insights from Paul Dewey, son of Alvin Dewey, who was the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s lead detective on the case; Gerald Clarke, Truman Capote biographer and friend; and actor Scott Wilson, who played murderer Richard “Dick” Hickock in the Academy Award-nominated motion picture, among others. The series also presents never-before-seen details such as original photographs, audio recordings, and documents from the case, as well as memoirs and letters from the murderers and their families. Through this immersive investigation, the true crime docuseries deepens our understanding of this notorious crime and explores the role it played in the American psyche.
“Surprisingly, no definitive documentary has ever been made about the Clutter family murders – an event so stunning that it spawned Truman Capote’s landmark book, In Cold Blood, gave birth to a whole new literary genre: the non-fiction novel, and marked the start of America’s obsession with true crime,” said Jan Diedrichsen, General Manager, SundanceTV and Sundance Now. “We are excited to partner with the brilliant Joe Berlinger on this documentary series to explore the social and cultural impact of this gruesome crime that turned cold blooded murderers into household names.”
“I have long been obsessed with Capote’s genre-busting masterwork and Richard Brooks’ equally groundbreaking film, but even more fascinated by the underlying crime and its impact on the American psyche,” said Berlinger. “The opportunity to explore my obsession, in light of new information we have uncovered, with a network and brand that I have long been associated with and which represents cinematic quality at its most intelligent, is a dream situation for a nonfiction filmmaker like me.”
“Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders,” is an AMC Studios, RadicalMedia and Third Eye Motion Picture Company production, executive produced and directed by Joe Berlinger. Kahane Cooperman serves as executive producer, Allison Berg as series producer and Keven McAlester as producer. Jon Kamen, Justin Wilkes, and Jon Doran are executive producers for RadicalMedia. Allison Berg and Kahane Cooperman also serve as episode directors along with Joe Berlinger.
SundanceTV’s “True Crime Marathon,” (W/T) from November 18 to November 19 will feature the film version of Capote’s book, In Cold Blood, starring Robert Blake and Scott Wilson. The film, directed by Richard Brooks, garnered four Academy Award nominations and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Other movies that will air during this marathon include Murder in the First, Infamous, Summer of Sam, Bonnie and Clyde, Zodiac and more.
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Since its launch in 1996, SundanceTV has remained true to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity and distinctive storytelling through unique voices and narratives found in the best independent films. From delivering critically acclaimed Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning television featuring some of the world’s most talented creators and performers, to showcasing some of the most compelling and iconic films across genres and generations, SundanceTV is a smart and thought-provoking entertainment destination. SundanceTV is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.; its sister networks include AMC, IFC, BBC America and WE tv. SundanceTV is available across all platforms, including on-air, online at www.sundance.tv, on demand and mobile.